Kristine Heykants

Hierarchies of Power: Ancient Rome, the Maremma, and the Early United States

Artist Talk: February 15, 2 PM EST

Cultivate Studios, 4218 Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895 Enter the third floor at the rear of the building. Parking behind the building and on the street.

In case of inclement weather: RSVP for zoom link here.

Cultivate is pleased to present an artist talk and discussion with artist and educator Kristine Heykants, reflecting on research developed during her residency at Cultivate’s La Baldi Residency in Montegiovi (GR), Italy. While in residence, Heykants explored nearby archaeological parks and museums preserving remnants of Etruscan civilization, shaping a new body of inquiry into the visual language of power.

Titled Hierarchies of Power: Ancient Rome, the Maremma, and the Early United States, the talk examines connections she drew between classical architectural forms in ancient Rome and the neoclassical aesthetics of the New World. Reflecting on her time in the region, Heykants notes, “While traversing the countryside, I ruminated on the parallels between the Roman conquest of Etruria and American Founding Fathers’ activities in the United States.” Through visual artifacts and comparative analysis, she considers how inherited symbols and cultural values can lend themselves to authoritarianism enacted in the name of democracy.

About the artist:

Kristine Heykants investigates accepted versions of history aiming to unearth under-presented interpretations. Research into historic and ancient places provides her a basis for comparison to colonial and patriarchal origins of American culture. Using photography, video and montage, she documents the present and imagines potentialities for the future.

Her documentary photography project Uprooted examines archetypal roles in her family’s hometown, while Media Stories mines historic representation of women in the media through staged scenes.

Kristine holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Iowa. A longtime resident of Minneapolis, she participates in local public art initiatives and has received grants from the Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, Minnesota State Arts Board and Springboard for the Arts in support of her art practice. She exhibits widely and teaches photography, video and digital media at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. https://www.kristineheykants.com